|
In a new study published in Functional Ecology, we investigated how plant volatile signals influence predator attraction in willows. The study tested whether herbivore-specific cues can shape plant defences and alter interactions with natural enemies under field conditions.
0 Comments
In a new study led by Katerina Sam, we show that the risk of predation faced by insects varies strongly across both latitude and forest height. Researchers from our group contributed data from the Leipzig canopy crane site, helping reveal how predator–prey interactions change across global environmental gradients. Using a global network of forest canopy cranes, the study tests how predation on caterpillars differs between temperate forests and the tropics and between the forest understory and canopy.   Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Merry Christmas and happiness, good health, love and many publications in the New Year 2026! from Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology
On November 6, 2025, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences held an Open Day, in which our Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology also took part. We prepared a program focused on the topic: How plants defend themselves against herbivores.
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a background in bioinformatics to join our research team investigating the global drivers of phytochemical diversity. This project aims to uncover how the remarkable diversity of plant metabolites relates to biotic and abiotic stress across the globe. As a model system, we focus on the Salicaceae family, which provides an exceptional opportunity to study phytochemical evolution thanks to its broad geographic distribution, ecological diversity, and well-characterized phylogeny.
We are delighted to congratulate Jing Vir Leong on the successful defence of their doctoral thesis titled “Herbivore-plant interactions, evolution of defenses and chemical diversity in Salicaceae.”
Natural hybrids of Salix alba × fragilis are widespread along the Elbe River in Czechia, yet the ecological and chemical factors behind their success remain poorly understood. In our newly published study, we explore whether hybridization influences the diversity of specialized metabolites—and how this, in turn, affects herbivory and environmental adaptability.
Postdoctoral Position in Plant Chemical Ecology
We are inviting applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join our project exploring the drivers and functional roles of phytochemical diversity in plants. Project Overview Our research investigates the remarkable diversity of plant metabolites and their correlations with biotic and abiotic stressors at a global scale. To test our hypotheses, we focus on the Salicaceae family that represents a unique model system, being globally distributed in diverse environments. The project combines field observations with advanced metabolomics techniques. The successful candidate will enhance these efforts through laboratory-based experiments to test the functional roles of phytochemical diversity in plant defence. A key part of this work involves conducting feeding experiments with model herbivores to determine how different facets of chemical diversity influence insect behaviour and performance. Morgane Cottel has joined our lab as a new PhD student. She will be working on plant chemical defences and their roles in multitrophic interactions along ecological gradients. Using tropical and temperate species from the willow family, she will focus on the importance of plant volatile compounds in attracting the predators of insect herbivores depending on the type of environment.
|
New PublicationsMartin Volf, (2026) Structural innovation and flexibility in plant chemical defenses, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 123 (15) e2606250123, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2606250123
March 2026
|
RSS Feed